View full sizeStephanie Moore, former director of the Medina County SPCA. Donna J. Miller, The Plain Dealer

MEDINA, Ohio — The executive director of the Medina County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was asked to resign Monday for failing to do enough fundraising, SPCA board president George Marquis said.

Stephanie Moore said she agreed to leave her $43,000 a year job because "the shelter is going in a new direction with a new strategic plan."

Marquis said the non-profit group needs a professional fundraiser more than it needs Moore's skills at managing a shelter. Moore will receive a month's pay and compensation for unused vacation time in a severance agreement that has not yet been finalized.

"The SPCA is in a dire financial situation," Marquis said. "We have to tap into savings to make up for a drop in donations. Our three recent fundraisers brought in about $100,000, while our annual operating budget is nearly $400,000.

"We need a real fundraising campaign, led by a professional fundraiser who will also seek corporate donations. We need to get out of the current, inadequate facility and build our own proper shelter on four acres of land we could lease from the county for free near the county dog kennel."

Marquis said, "this was a difficult but necessary decision and Moore understands it."

The current shelter manager, Tracey Miller, will continue to handle day-to-day operations at the crowded shelter, where cages and supplies are packed into what used to be small offices.

"And the board is networking to see what professional help is available," Marquis said.

Moore said, "this isn't the first financial difficulty the SPCA has faced. I am confident that the organization will rise above the challenges and move forward. We took in and saved a lot of animals since I was hired in 2010, and I am very proud of that."

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